Canterbury’s Delmari Janse Van Rensburg Wins Top Baking Award
Delmari Janse Van Rensburg has dedicated the past six months to perfecting her baking skills, and her hard work paid off when she was awarded the prestigious LA Judge award for baking apprentice of the year in Sydney, Australia.
Reflecting on her win, the 22-year-old expressed her disbelief, stating, “You hope and you dream, but to win it is insane. I just didn’t want to come last. You have really got to back yourself, and when you come up against the best of the best, it is easy to start doubting yourself, so you have to push yourself and know it is time to step up.”
The competition, which has been running since 1967, aims to recognize the top bakers in Australasia who are 25 and under. Van Rensburg’s victory means she will have the opportunity to train with the global baking group Puratos Headquarters in Belgium next year.
The three-day competition tested contestants on various aspects of baking, including technical skills, production efficiency, theory, and creativity. Van Rensburg stood out with her unique approach, creativity, and ability to overcome challenges in a one-person bakery.
Van Rensburg attributed her success to the advice she received during the NZ Association of Bakers bread baker of the year competition, where she won the young bread baker award. She also credited her bakery manager Janine Bell for her unwavering support and mentorship.
With her win, Van Rensburg earned a $15,000 research grant, which she plans to use for studying brand management in the United Kingdom and gaining marketing experience in the Netherlands. She will embark on this journey for three months starting on June 8.
Looking ahead, Van Rensburg expressed her excitement about learning from the best in Europe, stating, “Europe is the gold standard of baking, it fuels you more because there is always something to look forward to and work towards.”
